Florida Basketball went for quality over quantity in the transfer portal
"Quality over quantity" has become a guiding principle for Florida Gators head coach Todd Golden as it relates to the transfer portal. As teams scramble to fill their rosters through the portal, Golden's selective approach is earning praise from analytics experts.
According to Evan Miyakawa, a leading voice in college basketball analytics, Florida boasts the 10th-best average quality of transfers this summer. With an impressive average ranking of 4.02, the Gators find themselves in elite company, outpacing traditional powerhouses like Kentucky, Connecticut, and Tennessee.
Which teams are getting the highest quality transfers?
— Evan Miyakawa (@EvanMiya) June 4, 2024
Any team can load up on players in the portal, but the quality of those incoming transfers often is more important. Here are the teams with the highest average transfer rating at https://t.co/cegyfz96ax: pic.twitter.com/f8icwHSsGh
At the heart of this metric is Florida Atlantic transfer Alijah Martin, whom Miyakawa suggests as the Gators' top portal acquisition. A seasoned veteran with four years under his belt, Martin brings a well-rounded game to Gainesville, having averaged 11.9 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.4 assists while shooting 36.9% from beyond the arc for the Owls.
Joining Martin are Chattanooga forward Sam Alexis and Washington State center Rueben Chinyelu, further improving Florida's frontcourt. And with two roster spots still open, Golden's recruiting acumen could further elevate the Gators' standing.
This isn't Golden's first rodeo in the portal. Last year, he landed All-American candidate Walter Clayton Jr., Zyon Pullin, Tyrese Samuel, Micah Handlogten, and Julian Rishwain, altogether placing Florida as Miyakawa's sixth-ranked incoming transfer class.
Coming off an appearance in the SEC Tournament finals along with a berth in the NCAA Tournament, expectations are high for Florida for the 2024/25 campaign. Multiple publications have placed the Gators in their "Way too early" top 25, and given these transfers, it isn't unreasonable to think Florida could make a run to the Sweet 16 and beyond this upcoming season.
feed